president barack obama has declared a major disaster now in new york city and long island because of the damage from former hurricane sandy. >> it's still amazing to see these images. sandy is now connected to the deaths of at least 17 people across the united states. an estimated 7.4 million homes and businesses are without power across 16 states and washington, d.c. in the hard hit big apple, the new york stock exchange, nasdaq and broadway theaters will be closed for a second straight day. we know now there's at least 10 to $20 billion in damage and 15,000 flights across the united states have been canceled. ines ferre is live in new york with more on the wrath of sandy. >>> reporter: hurricane sandy flooded some areas of new york city, knocked out power of thousands, and the southern part of manhattan is virtually shut down. >>> reporter: a storm surge nearly 14 feet high pushed ashore flooding hundreds of miles of coastline from virginia to massachusetts. >> it's the most flooding i have seen in all the years i have lived here. >> reporter: floodwater and high winds have knocked